Toothbrush holder



Sept. 12, 1950 c. w. TIDEMAN 2,522,470

TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Filed Aug. 23;. 1947 Patented Sept. 12, 1950 TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER- Garl W. Tideman, Framingham, Mass.

Application August 23, 1947, Serial No. riuzse (o1. zit-65) 2 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to tooth brush holders, and more specifically to a com bination unit of ornamental design which may serve as a toothbrush holder in packaged relation before purchase and as a protective receptacle for brushes, when assembled on a bathroom wall after purchase.

It is customary in modern bathroom construction to utilize combination devices of a general design consisting of a porcelain or metal container for holding soap, water tumblers, or the like, formed with slots or openings around its periphery for toothbrushes. Such toothbrushholding media afford no protection for the bristle portion of the toothbrush, and have therefore proven unsanitary as dust and other impurities constantly accumulate on such bristles.

A prime object of my invention, therefore, is to provide an extremely simple, inexpensive, attractive, and novel toothbrush-holding unit of a configuration uniquely designed to protect the brushes when positioned therein.

Another important object of my invention resides in the fact that it is made of plastic material, thus assuring an attractive finish and enabling it to be made of any desired color to blend in with the color scheme of any bathroom.

A further feature of my invention is that it is of such configuration to be ideally suited to permit nesting of a plurality of brushes in packaged relation for display and sales purposes, which shape further provides an ornamental appearance when assembled for use and also functions in a protective and sanitary capacity as well.

Further objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the accompanying description and appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein I show a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my novel unit as it would appear assembled on a wall with one toothbrush positioned therein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of my unit adapted for use as a display medium holding a pair of brushes; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of my toothbrush-holder holding four brushes in nested relation and sealed with a wrapping of cellophane.

In carrying out my invention I take a tapered strip of Plexiglas, or the like, and under heat bend it into the tubular shape, as shown, having a substantially straight portion l provided adjacent each edge thereof with identical openings Il--H to receive screws, or the like, for attachment to a wall.

Extending upwardly from said portion in and at a predetermined degree of curve, having each side l3 and I4 thereof similarly tapered inwardly, is a cylindrical cover section i2. The lower curve of said section I2 merges into an inturned flange portion l5 directed substantially at right angles to said straight portion Ill and slightly removed therefrom, and formed with a plurality of toothbrush-holding slots iii-46 suitably spaced and of convenient size to retain brushes 2!) of any size and shape. The outer sides of said portion 15 are likewise tapered inwardly at a similar degree to that of the sides 13 and Hi, the width of said portion l5 thus being sufliciently less than that of the portion Ill to permit a screwdriver or any similar tool to be applied to the screws in the openings III When it is desired to use my unit for display purposes, the straight portion l0 becomes a holding surface for a plurality of brushes 20-20, and also serves as a base on which the unit can stand. This combination feature of my novel construction is an important part of my invention, and I wish to claim the same hereinafter more fully. For illustrative purposes in this connection, I have shown a covering 2| of cellophane but, of course, any transparent dustproof container or wrapping would be equally desirable.

I find that transparent plastic material, such as Plexiglas or the like, is ideally suited for my device when used for display purposes as it enables a prospective purchaser to inspect the brushes therein contained without handling them, so that they thus remain at all times in sanitary and protected condition, and similarly such transparency is important When my unit is being employed in the home as it permits proper identification of the contained brushes, and simplifies the placing and removal of the brushes in and from the brush-holding slots.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a combination toothbrush-holding unit which is of onepiece construction, thus very simple and inexpensive to produce, most attractive as to design and appearance, being made of any colored transparent plastic material, sanitary in use as it protects the brush bristles from dust and other impurities; while at the same time allowing air to circulate about the bristles to effect proper drying and which combines the functions of toothbrush-holding when applied to a bathroom Wall or when adapted as a self-contained unit for display and advertising purposes. Each detail of construction ofmy invention has a definite, distinct, and unique purpose and my complete unit is believed to be a distinct improvement in this art.

The holding, protecting, and air-circulating feature is of considerable importance, and the position and arrangement of the slots for holding the toothbrush handle free of resting on the bristles of the brush is also important.

I claimi Q l 1. A toothbrush holder comprising a single strip of transparent material, tapered widthwise throughout its length, the Wider end of said strip being of straight configuration and the remainder of said strip being of curved configuration, with the end of the same constituting an intu'rned flange directed at right angles to said straight portion, spaced slightly therefrom, and raised from the bottom edge thereof, said flange portion formed with toothbrush-holding slots therein.

2. A toothbrush holder, protector, and display stand comprising a single strip of transparent material, tapered widthwise throughout its length, the wider end of said strip being of straight configuration to provide an attaching surface when assembled with a wall and a packaging surface when arranged as a display unit, and the remainder of said strip being of curved configuration to provide a protective cover, the end of said curved portion being slotted and constituting an inturned flange directed at right angles to said straight portion, spaced slightly therefrom andyraised from the bottom edge thereof, said slotted flange providing a toothbrush holder.

CARL W. TIDEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D.100,426 Hunt July 14, 1936 1,735,512 Siegel Nov. 12, 1929 2,440,385 Schulte Apr. 27, 1948 

